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Dear Miffy
Dreamed about you again.
Like I do most nights.
Sometimes it's nightmares,
sometimes it's good dreams,
sometimes I have to change the sheets.
'You can squeeze my lemon, baby, juice runs down my legs.'
Tony writes letters.
To Miffy.
And breaks your heart.
"Your life's a solo run, and even the crowd that's cheering you want you to fall over. They love you when you win, but they love it even better when you lose..."
Like I do most nights.
Sometimes it's nightmares,
sometimes it's good dreams,
sometimes I have to change the sheets.
'You can squeeze my lemon, baby, juice runs down my legs.'
Tony writes letters.
To Miffy.
And breaks your heart.
"Your life's a solo run, and even the crowd that's cheering you want you to fall over. They love you when you win, but they love it even better when you lose..."
112 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1997
5 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
About the author
John Marsden
90 books1,955 followersThere is more than one author with this name in the database, see f.e. John Marsden.
John Marsden was an Australian writer and school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He was especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.
Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.
John Marsden was an Australian writer and school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He was especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.
Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 2, 2011
Dear John Marsden,
I already knew you were the almighty king of Aussie YA after reading the Tomorrow series, but now I'm going to throw in a crown, a sceptre and a huge, lavish coronation ceremony to make it all official.
Love,
Me.
As much as I love the premise and the characters and the voice of the Tomorrow books, John Marsden has proven to me once and for all that his books don't need a background of terror and war, or the incredible, indomitable Ellie Linton, to be gut-wrenchingly good. This was a simple, short read, a collection of letters written by the teenaged Tony to his lady love, Miffy, but it shouldn't be mistaken for just a love story. It's that in places, to be sure, but it's also vulgar -- which I can attest that Aussie teenage boys really are, more often than not -- jarring, dark, depressing and well-told. I thought I knew precisely what the big reveal was going to be and I could not have been more dead wrong. The real reveal -- uncovered in a slow-burn of bits and pieces, peeled back slowly like a Band-Aid -- was far more surprising and far more unsettling than what I'd had in mind.
The thing that really threw me headlong into the character of Tony and what happened to him, though, was the fact that I have known scores of teenage boys just like him: school-wagging delinquent no-hopers who never bothered with being smart. I never thought much of them, and when I did I did so with some contempt, I have to admit. Tony's story has made me regret that, and wonder whether anything half as terrible has happened to any of them.
I see what you did there, Mr Marsden. Kudos.
I already knew you were the almighty king of Aussie YA after reading the Tomorrow series, but now I'm going to throw in a crown, a sceptre and a huge, lavish coronation ceremony to make it all official.
Love,
Me.
As much as I love the premise and the characters and the voice of the Tomorrow books, John Marsden has proven to me once and for all that his books don't need a background of terror and war, or the incredible, indomitable Ellie Linton, to be gut-wrenchingly good. This was a simple, short read, a collection of letters written by the teenaged Tony to his lady love, Miffy, but it shouldn't be mistaken for just a love story. It's that in places, to be sure, but it's also vulgar -- which I can attest that Aussie teenage boys really are, more often than not -- jarring, dark, depressing and well-told. I thought I knew precisely what the big reveal was going to be and I could not have been more dead wrong. The real reveal -- uncovered in a slow-burn of bits and pieces, peeled back slowly like a Band-Aid -- was far more surprising and far more unsettling than what I'd had in mind.
The thing that really threw me headlong into the character of Tony and what happened to him, though, was the fact that I have known scores of teenage boys just like him: school-wagging delinquent no-hopers who never bothered with being smart. I never thought much of them, and when I did I did so with some contempt, I have to admit. Tony's story has made me regret that, and wonder whether anything half as terrible has happened to any of them.
I see what you did there, Mr Marsden. Kudos.
May 27, 2018
This is a very quick, intense and disturbing read...certainly food for thought.
A very sad cover quote:
"Your life's a solo run,
and even the crowd
That's cheering you want
you to fall over.
They love you when you win,
but they love it even better
when you lose."
This book is a series of unsettling letters written by a very (understandably) disturbed young teenager to his girlfriend, where he describes his feelings and some of the events in his life which brought him to this place and time of distress and utter hopelessness.
Because it is such a short book, to say more would give away too much so I will leave it to the reader to discover more about how and why this young man has been brought to his knees so early in his young life.
I am a big fan of John Marsden and his uncanny sense for capturing the workings of the young minds he so often writes about, this is no exception. However I didn't rate it as highly because I found it a bit too scattered and lacking in substance.
A very sad cover quote:
"Your life's a solo run,
and even the crowd
That's cheering you want
you to fall over.
They love you when you win,
but they love it even better
when you lose."
This book is a series of unsettling letters written by a very (understandably) disturbed young teenager to his girlfriend, where he describes his feelings and some of the events in his life which brought him to this place and time of distress and utter hopelessness.
Because it is such a short book, to say more would give away too much so I will leave it to the reader to discover more about how and why this young man has been brought to his knees so early in his young life.
I am a big fan of John Marsden and his uncanny sense for capturing the workings of the young minds he so often writes about, this is no exception. However I didn't rate it as highly because I found it a bit too scattered and lacking in substance.
August 10, 2014
I remember picking up this book by accident at 12 years old. It opened my mind to things that fiction never was to me before. Of course I didn't understand half of it at 12, but I read it again and again from 12 until 14.
It was a book that made me feel like a grown up, feel liberated. It's the book that made me continue reading, as I remembered it as something that opened a door to something I never thought a book could talk about. To me books were magical and ethereal. This book made me realise that books could relate to you and your experiences. While I did not have the obvious problems of the teenager in this book, it did make me realise that my non-romantic way of experiencing the world was not because my experience was broken, but the kids fiction was.
Adult life can not be romantic and beautiful. This book helped me deal with that. While it sounds horrible as a review, to me personally, from my heart, I could not give it a better one.
It was a book that made me feel like a grown up, feel liberated. It's the book that made me continue reading, as I remembered it as something that opened a door to something I never thought a book could talk about. To me books were magical and ethereal. This book made me realise that books could relate to you and your experiences. While I did not have the obvious problems of the teenager in this book, it did make me realise that my non-romantic way of experiencing the world was not because my experience was broken, but the kids fiction was.
Adult life can not be romantic and beautiful. This book helped me deal with that. While it sounds horrible as a review, to me personally, from my heart, I could not give it a better one.
October 25, 2010
this was a very weird and disturbing book, but it was interesting to read lol
February 23, 2013
I wasn't going to review this book because it has been such a long time since I read it. I was teaching kids of the same age as Tony, whose letters to his girlfriend, Miffy, are the meat of this book. And I knew broken boys like Tony. And I knew girls like Miffy. Their relationship was a train wreck that they couldn't see coming. Marsden, through his skilful writing, ensures that while the reader can't see the coming wreck in detail, he/she certainly knows its coming.
So some words that well up in me will have to do for a review: unique, honest, gritty, powerful, profound, gut-wrenching, confronting, hyper- real, in-your-face.
I hesitated before recommending this book to my students, but did so in the end by adding the proviso that they come and debrief with me afterwards. I think some of the more troubled ones among them came to realise that a good author, like John Marsden knows the world they inhabit and won't pull any punches in describing it. I think it also helped them to know that as their teacher, i recognised that a parallel universe to school exists. In that world, a whole different set of rules apply.
So some words that well up in me will have to do for a review: unique, honest, gritty, powerful, profound, gut-wrenching, confronting, hyper- real, in-your-face.
I hesitated before recommending this book to my students, but did so in the end by adding the proviso that they come and debrief with me afterwards. I think some of the more troubled ones among them came to realise that a good author, like John Marsden knows the world they inhabit and won't pull any punches in describing it. I think it also helped them to know that as their teacher, i recognised that a parallel universe to school exists. In that world, a whole different set of rules apply.
July 28, 2022
I really only finished this because it was so short. It didn't improve and I wasn't invested.
August 25, 2021
I am way, way older than the young adult target audience of this book but thoroughly enjoyed the character and style. This book is disturbing and includes a of a lot of profanity which adds significantly to the realism of the story. The book reminded me of another book, Go Ask Alice (anonymous), that was presented in diary form and also focussed on the consequences of choices in our teenage years. I read Go Ask Alice in my mid-teens and passed on to my own daughters at the same age. I would probably have done the same with Dear Miffy if I had discovered it earlier.
November 15, 2012
Wow.
To all those who are looking for a fun and easy read, this is NOT the book for you. Be aware, this book will most likely leave you feeling raw and slightly depressed.
That being said, this is definitely an amazing book that deals with some heavy issues with deceptive simplicity. I'm so glad that I took the time to read this, and will probably re-read some time soon. I would recommend this to anyone who is up for a heavy read, it is definitely worth your time!
To all those who are looking for a fun and easy read, this is NOT the book for you. Be aware, this book will most likely leave you feeling raw and slightly depressed.
That being said, this is definitely an amazing book that deals with some heavy issues with deceptive simplicity. I'm so glad that I took the time to read this, and will probably re-read some time soon. I would recommend this to anyone who is up for a heavy read, it is definitely worth your time!
July 29, 2008
John Marsden has this wonderful talent for capturing the essence of the most disturbing, troubled, wonderful characters. This book is no exception. Depressing, absorbing, fantastic.
Definitely worth the 10 years it took for me to finally get my hands on a copy.
Definitely worth the 10 years it took for me to finally get my hands on a copy.
July 28, 2008
Wonderful; dark and depressing but incredibly good.
August 14, 2015
Tony's voice was a lot like Holden Caufield's, with his casual tone as he drops sudden dark information. This tone made the story very authentic and interesting.
March 10, 2025
A short novella (is that tautological?) from John Marsden, who is probably the best writer of (and for) Australian teenagers.
I thought I read this when it first came out (and I was more in the target age range), but I’ve got no memory of it whatsoever. I’ve rated it a four, but it’s really only a 3.5.
Tony writes letters to Miffy, who used to be his girlfriend. Because this is a John Marsden book, it’s no spoiler to suggest that not everything is healthy with this relationship, these letters, or Tony.
He’s written better stories, but this one is still a bit gut-wrenching when you get to the really traumatic parts. Oh, and it earns the warning on the back: Contents may offend some readers. For 1997, it would have been pretty full-on for a YA novel.
I thought I read this when it first came out (and I was more in the target age range), but I’ve got no memory of it whatsoever. I’ve rated it a four, but it’s really only a 3.5.
Tony writes letters to Miffy, who used to be his girlfriend. Because this is a John Marsden book, it’s no spoiler to suggest that not everything is healthy with this relationship, these letters, or Tony.
He’s written better stories, but this one is still a bit gut-wrenching when you get to the really traumatic parts. Oh, and it earns the warning on the back: Contents may offend some readers. For 1997, it would have been pretty full-on for a YA novel.
February 27, 2022
Definitely an interesting read. Different style from the books I’ve been reading lately which was nice to switch it up. I like the delivery of the book with the storyline creeping through the letters we read. A nice short read and gives you an insight into the thoughts of kids who live like Tony and feel what he feels. 3⭐️
January 16, 2023
As one of my tags says, pretty good for what it was. I had thought I'd read this in high school (girl in my grade was named Miffy), but maybe I never finished it. I sure don't remember it. Characters are great and the format really works. The ending is a little out of left field, like Marsden knew he wanted to finish fast and needed an ending. But I read it in an hour so there's that.
June 3, 2023
Read this way back when it first came out and I was a teenager. It doesn't seem fair to judge it against 'adult' books so my rating is reflected on how I originally felt about the book. A small but intense blast from the past. It stuck with me all these years somehow so that has to count for something!
Read
July 12, 2019absolutely broke my heart. Has such an important message
November 24, 2024
Wow, this really was as good as my best friend said it was. It really didn't end the way that I expected.
December 28, 2024
Read this in primary school and loved it. His writing is captivating.
January 25, 2025
well… that was a book
June 9, 2025
Bloody whining bastard, I guess he has a good reason why. You'll have to wait to the end to find out.
February 17, 2017
Honestly wasn't much of a fan for this book. The main character just annoyed me he. The ending was a surprise but I just couldn't connect to the story.
September 17, 2025
My favourite book as a teenager. I must have read it a dozen times.
I'm pretty sure John Marsden, and this book specifically, is one of the reasons I want to be a writer myself.
~***~
I can't recall how many times I read this one when I was a teenager. So many.
I loved it then and I love it now. It still gets 5 stars.
Re-read in honour of the passing of John Marsden on 18 December 2024. He was a national treasure, an Australian icon, and will be missed 💔
I'm pretty sure John Marsden, and this book specifically, is one of the reasons I want to be a writer myself.
~***~
I can't recall how many times I read this one when I was a teenager. So many.
I loved it then and I love it now. It still gets 5 stars.
Re-read in honour of the passing of John Marsden on 18 December 2024. He was a national treasure, an Australian icon, and will be missed 💔
Read
July 23, 2011This was one of the most graphic of all Marsden's books for YA. I liked it, but it didn't draw me in as much as his others., such as Checkers or So Much To Tell You. It's interesting to even just for the fact that he writes from a male protagonists point of view, which is unusual for him.
August 20, 2011
One of John Marsden's most powerful book. Yes it is depressing and disturbing, only because it confronts 'taboo' topics through a teenager's eyes instead of shying away from them.
Reading Tony's story still breaks my heart when I reread it so many years later.
Reading Tony's story still breaks my heart when I reread it so many years later.
April 2, 2015
Super-heavy Australian writing that's all suburbs and no gum trees or whatever the fuck Aus lit seems to think defines a country that is actually defined by Centrelink and cash-in-hand kitchenhand jobs.
March 17, 2016
When I read this as a teen I thought it was so powerful, and the big 'reveal' at the end really got to me. Now, it seems more like a character portrait, a snapshot of a life, and of a guy who, though I do have some sympathy for, I really didn't like that much.
March 24, 2011
A really good book that i enjoyed a lot. It really tells you the troubles teenagers go through and that if you make a wrong decision there can be harsh consequences.
September 29, 2011
One of my favourite books of all time.
February 11, 2012
This book left a big impact on me. So emotional. Made me bawl my eyes out at the end. So sad :(
December 13, 2012
Very authentic book from a troubled teenage male perspective; all on the same level though and just ends, no resolution.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews